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Heroism and sacrifice as six British fallen named

Six British soldiers killed in southern Afghanistan, including three 18-year-olds, were named today.

Corporal Jonathan Horne, Rifleman William Aldridge, Rifleman James Backhouse, Rifleman Joseph Murphy and Rifleman Daniel Simpson, from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles were killed near Sangin, Helmand province, while Corporal Lee Scott, 26, from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, died in an explosion near Nad-e-Ali.

Rifleman Murphy, from Castle Bromwich, West Midlands, Rifleman Aldridge, from Bromyard, Herefordshire, and Rifleman Backhouse, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, were aged just 18.

Several members of the group killed near Sangin died on Friday in a explosion while helping comrades injured in a previous blast.

Rifleman Murphy was attempting to carry Rifleman Simpson, 20, from Croydon, south London, to safety after he was wounded in the first explosion.

Corporal Horne, 28, from Walsall, and Rifleman Aldridge were also killed trying to help casualties from the first explosion. Rifleman Backhouse was trying to